Murder suspect held on $1M bond

Wes Duplantier and Daniel Tepfer

Updated 12:12 pm, Tuesday, September 17, 2013

BRIDGEPORT -- Less than a month after he was given a suspended sentence for three felony charges, an 18-year-old city man was charged Monday with murdering another man last week in the city's North End.

Police charged Roderick "Riki" Rogers in the shooting death of 26-year-old Christopher Pettway. Rogers was also charged with the attempted murder of four teenagers in the same incident in which Pettway was killed Sept. 10 near Trumbull and Reservoir avenues.

Rogers was arraigned Tuesday in Bridgeport Superior Court. Anticipating a large crowd, Rodgers' arraignment was held while mourners were still at his victim's funeral. Judge Earl Richards ordered Rodgers held on $1 million bond.

Pettway's aunt told the Connecticut Post that her nephew was killed as he tried to shield the other young men from gunfire.

At a news conference with Mayor Bill Finch in front of police headquarters Monday, Capt. James Viadero said police do not think Pettway was involved in the dispute that led to the shooting.

"We don't think he had anything to do with the act upon them," Viadero said. "He was an unintended target."

Youngsters arriving home from school stop to check out a memorial set up for shooting victim Christopher Pettway, who died in a shooting on Tuesday, at Reservoir and Trumbull Avenues on Wednesday September 11, 2013. less

Youngsters arriving home from school stop to check out a memorial set up for shooting victim Christopher Pettway, who died in a shooting on Tuesday, at Reservoir and Trumbull Avenues on Wednesday September 11, ... more

Customers sit outside Three Dollar Pizza right near a memorial which was set up for shooting victim Christopher Pettway, who died in a shooting on Tuesday, at Reservoir and Trumbull Avenues on Wednesday September 11, 2013. less

Customers sit outside Three Dollar Pizza right near a memorial which was set up for shooting victim Christopher Pettway, who died in a shooting on Tuesday, at Reservoir and Trumbull Avenues on Wednesday ... more

One person died and three others were injured in a shooting Tuesday afternoon near Reservoir and Trumbull avenues, police said. Police spokesman Bill Kaempffer said the shooting took place at around 2:30 p.m. near the Trumbull Gardens Housing Complex. He said all four people shot were young men in their late teens or early 20s and that the three who survived did not have life-threatening injuries. Kaempffer said it was too early to determine a motive for the shooting. He did not release the identities of any of the victims. Police were apparently still on the scene investigating as of 4:40 p.m. This story will be updated as details become available.

One person died and three others were injured in a shooting Tuesday afternoon near Reservoir and Trumbull avenues, police said. Police spokesman Bill Kaempffer said the shooting took place at around 2:30 p.m.

One person died and three others were injured in a shooting Tuesday afternoon near Reservoir and Trumbull avenues, police said.
Police spokesman Bill Kaempffer said the shooting took place at around 2:30 p.m. near the Trumbull Gardens Housing Complex. He said all four people shot were young men in their late teens or early 20s and that the three who survived did not have life-threatening injuries. Kaempffer said it was too early to determine a motive for the shooting. He did not release the identities of any of the victims. Police were apparently still on the scene investigating as of 4:40 p.m. This story will be updated as details become available. less

One person died and three others were injured in a shooting Tuesday afternoon near Reservoir and Trumbull avenues, police said.
Police spokesman Bill Kaempffer said the shooting took place at around 2:30 p.m. ... more

One person died and three others were injured in a shooting Tuesday afternoon near Reservoir and Trumbull avenues, police said.
Police spokesman Bill Kaempffer said the shooting took place at around 2:30 p.m. near the Trumbull Gardens Housing Complex. He said all four people shot were young men in their late teens or early 20s and that the three who survived did not have life-threatening injuries. Kaempffer said it was too early to determine a motive for the shooting. He did not release the identities of any of the victims. Police were apparently still on the scene investigating as of 4:40 p.m. This story will be updated as details become available. less

One person died and three others were injured in a shooting Tuesday afternoon near Reservoir and Trumbull avenues, police said.
Police spokesman Bill Kaempffer said the shooting took place at around 2:30 p.m. ... more

One person died and three others were injured in a shooting Tuesday afternoon near Reservoir and Trumbull avenues, police said. (Photo submitted by Doris)

One person died and three others were injured in a shooting Tuesday afternoon near Reservoir and Trumbull avenues, police said. (Photo submitted by Doris)

Photo: Contributed Photo

Image 13 of 15

One person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting near Reservoir and Trumbull avenue in Bridgeport, Sept. 10, 2013.

One person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting near Reservoir and Trumbull avenue in Bridgeport, Sept. 10, 2013.

Photo: Stephen Krauchick/DoingItLocal.c

Image 14 of 15

One person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting near Reservoir and Trumbull avenue in Bridgeport, Sept. 10, 2013.

One person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting near Reservoir and Trumbull avenue in Bridgeport, Sept. 10, 2013.

Photo: Stephen Krauchick/DoingItLocal.c

Image 15 of 15

Murder suspect held on $1M bond

1 / 15

Back to Gallery

Rogers was arrested at his mother's home in the eastern part of the city without incident Monday afternoon, police said.

On Aug. 19, Rogers pleaded guilty to racketeering, conspiracy and sale of narcotics charges. He received a suspended sentence and was placed on five years' probation.

During the sentencing hearing in that case, state prosecutors urged the judge to send Rogers -- who was already on juvenile probation -- to prison. But Rogers' lawyer in that case, Bridgeport state Rep. Auden Grogins, argued at the time that Rogers had no background of violence.

In news releases issued Monday, police identified the man they arrested as Roderick "Rodgers." But Grogins acknowledged that the man she defended and the man arrested Monday are the same person. She declined to comment further.

Police said Monday the man they arrested is known to frequent Stratford Avenue. Rogers, according to court documents from the August case, is a member of the Ave Set gang, which has been battling for control of the drug trade on Stratford Avenue.

Finch commended police for making an arrest within a week of Pettway's death. But he expressed surprise on hearing that Rogers had recently been released from custody.

"I don't know the conditions of that case," Finch said. "All I know is that as mayor, I've got to keep people safe. The more of these hoodlums that are locked up, the better we're going to be."

Police said the shootings are gang-related, but they said little else about the motive Monday, except that the shooting appears to stem from a past dispute involving Rogers.

The four other victims wounded in the shooting, who ranged in age from 15 to 19, are expected to recover from their injuries.

Pettway's death was the city's ninth homicide of 2013, including a police-involved shooting. The shooting, near a sprawling public housing complex, was the first of three gun battles in a 24-hour period last week. Two victims from the other shootings are also expected to survive. Police said they are still investigating whether Rogers is connected to the other shootings.

Police have already arrested a man who they say wanted to retaliate for Pettway's death. Bridgeport resident Jalil Hill, 28, was arrested last Wednesday after a brief police chase and charged with three gun-related felonies. He is being held on $50,000 bond and is set to appear in court Sept. 30.

Assistant Police Chief James Nardozzi said Monday police wanted to prevent retaliation for any of the shootings.

"Gun violence will not be tolerated here in Bridgeport," he said. "It's time to put the guns away. We will not tolerate this violence."